Afghanistan and US Finalize Strategic Aid Plan

The United States and Afghanistan have finally reached an agreement to a strategic partnership, which pledges American support for the middle Eastern country for the next 10 years.

The agreement comes after four months of negotiations between the two countries, and guarantees support from the U.S. for 1- years after combat troops withdraw, which is set to take place in 2014.

Not only does the pact establish guidelines for American forces after the withdrawal deadline in 2014, and will also help financially for the impoverished country and also for its security forces.

Gavin Sundwall, a U.S. Embassy spokesman, commented about the plan:

“Our goal is an enduring partnership with Afghanistan that strengthens Afghan sovereignty, stability and prosperity and that contributes to our shared goal of defeating al-Qaida and its extremist affiliates. We believe this agreement supports that goal.”

Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta, along with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, have signed the draft agreement, but it still has to pass by both countries, and then signed by the Afghan and American presidents.

Spanta said in a statement issued by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office that:

“The document finalized today provides a strong foundation for the security of Afghanistan, the region and the world and is a document for the development of the region.”

Neither country will comment on the details of the document, except to say that they are hopeful it will strengthen relations between the two countries, whose relations have been strained since U.S. troops burned Islamic holy books on a base earlier this year. Tensions became worse after Staff Sargeant Robert Bales reportedly killed 17 Afghan civilians in a night attack last month.

Officials also hope that, along with strengthening the bond between the two countries, the pact will also warn insurgents in Afghanistan that the U.S. will have a long-term presence in the country, even after combat troops have withdrawn.

Check out more information about another agreement the U.S. and Afghanistan signed here:

[iframe src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/MrVfogaKt3c” width=”560? height=”315?]